Bienvenu Yay, an independent journalist and the Mbandaka correspondent for the Kinshasa-based, private television station Congoweb TV, was on February 20 handed down a six-month sentence and ordered to pay US$2,500 in damages for slandering José Makila, deposed governor of Équateur province, according to delayed reports. Mbandaka is located in the northeastern province of Équateur.
Yay, according to Kinshasa-based Journaliste en danger (JED), was accused of broadcasting a slanderous report, on January 21 about Makila's house arrest following an investigation into the misappropriation of 85 million Congolese francs (approx US$120,000) intended for teachers' salaries. Makila filed a complaint, claiming that the information in the broadcast was inaccurate and that he was never placed under house arrest.
On January 23, a Mbandaka court opened the proceedings in the absence of Yay and his lawyers, who were not notified of the trial date. The proceedings were then postponed to January 30. On February 6 and 13, Yay and his lawyers appeared in court. Following the February 20 ruling, Yay's lawyers have filed an appeal.
